Reader Question – Kit for Winter build?
Written: June 28, 2011Ask The Bike Tart, Cockpit - Bars, Stem, Seatpost, Components
Matthew’s got a winter build in mind – what about the finishing kit though?…
“I’ve been contemplating a winter/rain build and I thought I might as well get a second opinion. I’ve got my eye on the rather nice Genesis Equilibrium. The stock options don’t suit me so I’d have to build one up. The frame comes in cherry red.
The (very) tentative plan is to use my spare set of Campag Khamsins (black with silver brake track) and get a Veloce groupset, probably in silver. Given those options, do I go for a silver stem and post? Would I be better off with black everything? (groupset, finishing kit, the lot)
To me the steel frame cries out for silver bits (as supplied with the stock builds) but the wheels are non-negotiable. Also, going with black parts would let me use some other existing parts and would also give me the option down the line of for example, matching 3T kit which I’m a big fan of.
Thoughts?”
My immediate thought on this one was a yes, silver all the way… but then I began contemplating white, which I think would be lairy but quite nice… and then I remembered it’s a winter / rain build you’re planning – that led me back to all black. Hmmm.
Full silver finishing kit on this would look ace, of that there’s little doubt – much as I dislike Ritchey, their new ‘Classic’ range is decent kit for anyone after a silver cockpit. Alternatively though there’s always the tried and trusted Thomson post and stem in silver which are difficult to beat.
Two other drivers for going silver to my mind are firstly that I find the cheaper Campag groups tend to look cheap in the matt black finish. Secondly, whilst not necessarily a given, there is a good chance you’re going to end up with silver mudguards too.
Black would work for sure, and if you’re going to need to keep the budget down then using current black parts might be a good way to do that. Be sure not to send me any pictures until you’ve got that matching 3T kit though eh?! All I would say if you do go black is that I would still go for silver on the groupset, for reasons already mentioned.
As for your wheels, I understand budgetry constraints even if the silver brake tracks would make me cringe – I think you’d be safe running them with either a black or silver setup though, so you are at least ok there.
Thanks for the question, and keep me posted on which way you go!
Tags:Equilibrium,Genesis
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Thank you for a well thought out reply, I’m inclined to agree to pretty much all of that, especially the part about the lower end Campag groupsets.
Good suggestion on the Ritchey parts, I hadn’t actually thought of them. Thomson is another appealing possibility but I’ve always had mixed feelings about their setback seatposts especially on more old-school looking frames.
Cheers!